Narrow escape
/ˌnæɹəʊ ɪˈskeɪp/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A situation in which some danger or unfortunate circumstance is only just avoided.
"Meredith referred to the turnpike or carriage road constructed by the Tredegar Iron Company alongside the tramroad from Penllwyn Mawr to Tredegar, and said there was no fence between the two; he had experienced narrow escapes at times when on horseback, for horses occasionally took fright when meeting locomotives."
- 2 something achieved (or escaped) by a narrow margin wordnet
Example
More examples"Meredith referred to the turnpike or carriage road constructed by the Tredegar Iron Company alongside the tramroad from Penllwyn Mawr to Tredegar, and said there was no fence between the two; he had experienced narrow escapes at times when on horseback, for horses occasionally took fright when meeting locomotives."
Etymology
From narrow (“having a small degree or margin”, adjective) + escape (noun).